Gao Ke, Xu Ke
Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of New Technologies and Applications for Targeted Therapy of Major Diseases, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
Gels. 2025 Apr 15;11(4):293. doi: 10.3390/gels11040293.
As an intelligent polymer material, pH-sensitive hydrogels exhibit the capability to dynamically sense alterations in ambient pH levels and subsequently initiate corresponding physical or chemical responses, including swelling, contraction, degradation, or ion exchange. Given the significant pH variations inherent in human pathophysiological microenvironments, particularly in tumor tissues, inflammatory lesions, and the gastrointestinal system, these smart materials demonstrate remarkable application potential across diverse domains such as targeted drug delivery systems, regenerative medicine engineering, biosensing, and disease diagnostics. Recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology and precision medicine have substantially propelled advancements in the design and application of pH-responsive hydrogels. This review systematically elaborates on the current research progress and future challenges regarding pH-responsive hydrogels in biomedical applications, with particular emphasis on their stimulus-response mechanisms, fabrication methodologies, multifunctional integration strategies, and application scenarios.
作为一种智能高分子材料，pH敏感水凝胶具有动态感知环境pH值变化并随后引发相应物理或化学反应的能力，包括膨胀、收缩、降解或离子交换。鉴于人类病理生理微环境中固有的显著pH值变化，特别是在肿瘤组织、炎症病变和胃肠道系统中，这些智能材料在靶向药物递送系统、再生医学工程、生物传感和疾病诊断等不同领域展现出显著的应用潜力。纳米技术和精准医学的最新突破极大地推动了pH响应水凝胶设计和应用的进展。本文综述系统阐述了pH响应水凝胶在生物医学应用中的当前研究进展和未来挑战，特别强调了它们的刺激响应机制、制备方法、多功能集成策略和应用场景。
